Electronic weight monitor

ABSTRACT

The electronic weight monitor of this invention comprises a control assembly including a switch operable to selectively control electric power to the weight monitor, a relay connected to an input contact to a switch, a lamp connected to a ground and to one of the output contacts of the relay, and a warning means connected to a ground and to the remaining output contact of the relay. A load cell housed in a container comprising a base having sidewalls and a lowermost terminal wall is provided. A platform having an uppermost terminal wall and sidewalls operable to slidably engage the sidewalls of the base, and an urging means operable to urge the base toward the platform are provided. The load cell includes a permanent magnetic field disposed in the base, and a reed-type switch which has one of its reeds connected to a ground and its opposing reed connected to the remaining input contact of the relay. The electronic weight monitor may include a magnetic field having adjusting means operable to selectively position the magnetic field relative to the base.

United States Patent [19] Stevens ELECTRONIC WEIGHT MONITOR [76]Inventor: George S. Stevens, 2106 Washington Way, Richland, Wash. 9935222 Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 218,092

[52] US. Cl 340/282, 340/272, 335/205, 200/85 R, 177/45 [51] Int. Cl.B60q 1/00, l-lOlh 35/02 [58] Field of Search 340/272, 282; 200/85, 86;335/205, 207

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,531,766 9/1970 Henzel340/272 X 3,596,024 7/1971 Smith 200/86 X 3,611,220 l0/l971 Hoffman335/207 3,634,635 l/l972 Ellis 335/205 X 3,673,526 6/1972 Brevick...335/205 2,769,052 10/1956 Beck 200/85 Primary ExaminerThomas B.l-labecker Assistant Examiner-Scott F. Partridge Attorney-John W; Kraft[57] ABSTRACT The electronic weight monitorof this invention comprises acontrol assembly including a switch operable to selectively controlelectric power to the weight monitor, a relay connected to an inputcontact to a switch, a lamp connected to a ground and to one of theoutput contacts of the relay, and a warning means connected to a groundand to the remaining output contact of the relay. A load cell housed ina container comprising a base having sidewalls and a lowermost terminalwall is provided. A platform having an uppermost terminal wall andsidewalls operable to slidably engage the sidewalls of the base, and anurging means operable to urge the base toward the platform are provided.The load cell includes a permanent magnetic field disposed in the base,and a reed-type switch which has one of its reeds connected to a groundand its opposing reed connected to the remaining input contact of therelay. The electronic weight monitor may include a magnetic field havingadjusting means operable to selectively position the magnetic fieldrelative to the base.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTRONIC WEIGHT MONITOR FIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates to weight monitor apparatus, and moreparticularly to electronic weight monitor apparatus operable to indicatewhen a predetermined load mass has been accumulated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Means commonly used and employed toindicate amounts of mass accumulated on vehicles, and the like, havecommonly included scales. Overloading of the vehicle may be avoided onlyby weighing the vehicle and its contents on a weigher.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideautomatic weight monitoring means which may be provided on a vehicle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide weight monitor meanswhich may be selectively controllable as to the amount of weight to beaccumulated on the vehicle.

These and other objects shall become apparent from the descriptionfollowing, it being understood that modifications may be made withoutaffecting the teachings of the invention here set out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally, the electronic weight monitor ofthis invention comprises a control assembly including a switchselectively operable to control electric power to the weight monitor, arelay connected to an input contact to a switch, a lamp connected to aground and to one of the output contacts of the relay, and a warningmeans connected to a ground and to the remaining output contact of therelay. A load cell housed in a container comprising a base havingsidewalls and a lowermost terminal wall is provided. A platform havingan uppermost terminal wall and sidewalls operable to slidably engage thesidewalls of the base and an urging means operable to urge the basetoward the platform are provided. The load cell includes a permanentmagnetic field disposed in the base, and a reed-type switch which hasone of its reeds connected to a ground and its opposing reed connectedto the remaining input contact of the relay. The electronic weightmonitor may include a magnetic field having adjusting means operable toselectively position the magnetic field relative to the base.

A more thorough and comprehensive understanding may be had from thedetailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in connectionwith the drawings forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuits of theelectronic weight monitor of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic weight monitor of thisinvention including a crosssectional view of the interior configurationof the load cell of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to the FIG. 1, theelectronic weight monitor of this invention is shown to advantage andidentified by the numeral 10. The electronic weight monitor is intendedto be disposed on a material handling apparatus, such as a truck,conveyor, or the like. The electronic weight monitor 10 comprises acontrol assembly 11 and a load cell 12. The electronic weight monitor 10is supplied with power from a suitable source, such as a battery 13.

The control assembly 11 is housed in a suitable container 14, shown inbroken lines for illustrative purposes. Power from the battery 13 isselectively controlled to the electronic weight monitor 10 by means of aswitch 15. The control assembly 11 is provided with a relay 16 havingone of its input contacts connected to the switch 15. One output contactof the relay 16 is connected to a monitoring lamp 17, which is connectedto a ground 18. The remaining output contact of the relay 16 isconnected to one contact of a warning apparatus, such as a bell 19.Although a bell 19 is described in the preferred embodiment, any of avariety of other alarm devices, such as lights, buzzers, or the like,may be used satisfactorily. The remaining contact of the bell 19 isconnected to the ground 18. In operation, when the switch is closed, thearmature 16' of the relay 16 is operable to close the circuit for thelamp 17.

The load cell 12 includes a permanent magnetic field 20 and a reed-likeswitch 21. Referring now to the FIG. 2, the load cell 12 is housed in acontainer 22. The container includes a suitably configured base 22'having its lower terminal wall closed and its uppermost terminal sideopen. The container 22 also includes a platform 22 which is looselyslidably engageable and similarly configured to the base 22'. Theplatform 22" is open on its lowermost terminal side and closed on itsuppermost terminal wall. A suitable urging means, such as springs 23,are provided between the lowermost terminal wall of the base 22 and theuppermost terminal wall of the platform 22'. The sidewalls of theplatform 22' are provided with overlapping, opposingly disposed slots24; and the base 22' is provided with a corresponding number ofoutwardly projecting studs 25 which are operable as guides for themembers 22' and 22". A permanent magnet 20 is provided within the loadcell container 22 on a pedestal 26 fastened to the lowermost terminalside of the base 22'. That is to say, the permanent magnet 20 isdisposed distally from the lowermost terminal wall of the base 22 andaway from stationary metal objects within the load cell 12. The reedswitch 21 is fastened to the interior side of the uppermost terminalwall of the platform 22". The reed switch 21 is provided with a pair ofmetal reeds 21' and 21", and is enclosed in a nonmagnetic enclosure,such as a glass enclosure 27. One of the reeds 21' is connected to theremaining input contact of the relay 16. The opposing reed 21' of thereed switch 21 is connected to the ground 18, shown to better advantagein the FIG. 1.

In operation, the load cell 12 is suitably disposed between the loadmass and the vehicle frame. When sufficient mass has been added to theload on the load cell 12, the reed switch 21 is caused to come into themagnetic field 20, resulting in a closed electric circuit. The resultingchange in voltage causes the armature 16' of the relay 16 tosimultaneously break the circuit to the lamp 17 and to activate thewarning bell 19. It is to be understood that the amount of load mass tobe monitored by the monitor 10 may be selectively controllable byproviding the pedestal 26 with adjusting means, such as threads 28,which are operable to selectively raise and lower the magnet 20, thuscontrolling the point at which the reedswitch 21 is activated duringcompression of the cell 12.

Having thus described in detail a preferred apparatus which embodies theconcepts and principles of the invention and which accomplishes thevarious objects, purposes and aims thereof, it is to be appreciated andwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changescould be made in the apparatus without altering the inventiveconceptsand principles embodied therein. Hence, it is intended that the scope ofthe invention be limited only to the extent indicated in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An electronic weight monitor comprising a control assembly includinga switch operable to control electric power to said weight monitor, arelay connected at one of its input contacts to said switch, a lampconnected to a ground and to one of the output contacts of said relay,and a warning means connected to said ground and to the remaining outputcontact of said relay; and a load cell housed in a container comprisinga base having sidewalls and a lowermost terminal wall, a platform havingan uppermost terminal wall and sidewalls operable to slidably engagesaid sidewalls of said base, and urging means operable to urge said baseand said platform apart, said load cell including a permanent magneticfield disposed in said base, and a reed switch having one of its reedsconnected to said ground and its opposing reed connected to theremaining input contact of said relay. 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said magnetic field includes adjusting means operable toselectively position said magnetic field relative to said lowermostterminal wall of said base.

1. An electronic weight monitor comprising a control assembly includinga switch operable to control electric power to said weight monitor, arelay connected at one of its input contacts to said switch, a lampconnected to a ground and to one of the output contacts of said relay,and a warning means connected to said ground and to the remaining outputcontact of said relay; and a load cell housed in a container comprisinga base having sidewalls and a lowermost terminal wall, a platform havingan uppermost terminal wall and sidewalls operable to slidably engagesaid sidewalls of said base, and urging means operable to urge said baseand said platform apart, said load cell including a permanent magneticfield disposed in said base, and a reed switch having one of its reedsconnected to said ground and its opposing reed connected to theremaining input contact of said relay.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said magnetic field includes adjusting means operable toselectively position said magnetic field relative to said lowermostterminal wall of said base.